Recycling Made Simple: A Quick Guide to the Orange & Blue Bins
Have you ever been standing at the bin wondering, “Does this go in orange or blue bin? Or should I just throw it in the trash?”
You’re not alone. Here’s some fast answers to help you Recycle Right.
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Orange Recycling Bin
Paper & Cardboard
Think of the orange bin as your paper products expert. If it’s clean, dry, and paper-based, this is usually its home. Flatten boxes to save space, and remember — if an item is still usable, donation is always a great first option.
Accepted items include:
- Junk mail and office paper
- Newspapers and magazines
- Catalogs, coupon books, and telephone books
- Clean cardboard (flattened, up to 4’ x 4’)
- Brown paper bags
- Pasteboard (flattened cereal boxes, tissue boxes, shoe boxes, etc.)
- Paperback books and school workbooks (please donate if possible)
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Blue Recycling Bin
Plastics, Glass & Metals
The blue bin is for containers. If it’s a bottle, jar, or can made of plastic, glass, or metal (and it’s empty) it likely belongs here. A quick rinse helps prevent contamination and keeps recycling loads clean.
Accepted items include:
- Plastic and glass bottles and jars (up to 4 gallons in size)
- Metal cans, including empty aerosol cans
- Yogurt cups and margarine tubs
When in doubt, remember rigid containers are typically recyclable. Soft plastics and loose pieces are not.
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Trash Can
Non-Recyclables
Some items don’t belong in curbside recycling. Placing the wrong materials in your recycling bin can contaminate the entire load.
Please place these items in the trash:
- Lids of any kind
- Frozen food trays
- Black plastic of any kind
- Clamshell containers (like blueberry containers)
- Supermarket to-go containers
- Plastic party cups (Solo cups)
- Take-out cups (coffee or soda cups)
- Take-out containers of any kind
- Compostable, biodegradable, or “bio-plastic” containers
- Empty petroleum product, pool chemical, or pesticide containers
- Polystyrene foam (Styrofoam)
- Egg cartons
When you’re unsure, it’s better to throw questionable items away than risk contaminating recyclable materials.
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When in Doubt
If you’re not sure of where to recycle any item – consult the Zero Waste Wizard. This tool makes it easy to find whether an item belongs in the Orange or Blue Bin or in neither.
Recycling works best when everyone follows the same guidelines. Taking a few extra seconds to sort items correctly helps reduce contamination, protect equipment, and ensure recyclable materials actually get recycled. Small actions add up — and together, they make a big difference.
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Household Hazardous Waste
Not everything belongs in the trash or a recycling bin. Items like leftover paint, fertilizer, automotive fluids, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, cooking oil and electronics are considered household hazardous waste and require special handling. Throwing these items away or pouring them down the drain can harm sanitation workers, wildlife, and local waterways. Instead, take these materials to the Alachua County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center or one of the five convenient rural collection centers, where trained staff will safely recycle or dispose of them. Best of all, drop-off is free for residents and helps keep harmful chemicals out of landfills, creeks, and the aquifer. Click here for locations and hours of operation.
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Need New Bins or Replacement Bins?
- Call the Office of Waste Collection at 352-338-3233
- Email: wastecollection@alachuacounty.us
- Use the Contact Us form on the bottom of this page.
Please be sure to add your address and a phone number so we can look up your account and make sure you get the right items for your area.
For a more in-depth look into this information visit this article on the subject: Recycle Right: Orange or Blue?